And clarence



Nov. 9 1926.

W. E. PHILLIPS, JR., AL

PEDAL ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE-E DIRECTI-N SIGNALS l Il Filed June 5, 1925 @9.5mm ,umn 50 F@ .3.a rf -27 23 1-IL lll lllllllll Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. PHILLIPS, JR., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND CLARENCE O. MEZG-ER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

PEDAL ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE DIRECTION` VSIGNALS.

Application filed June 3, `1925. Serial No. 34,722,

This invention relates to a pedal attachment for directional-signal-operating device for motor vehicles to signal pedestrians, traflic officers and drivers of other ma chines theintention of the driver to turn to the right or left and is preferably used in connection with distinctive electric signals having suitable characters or colors to indicate the turning direction.

It is found that most of the operators of motor vehicles drive with the left foot resting lightly against the clutch pedal for emergency control of the car, particularly in congested traflic conditions, and the main object of the present invention is to provide such pedal with laterally movable members, one4 for each signal, adapted to be operated at will independently of each other for selectively closing the circuits through their respective signal lamps.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a face view of a section of an automobile pedal with the cover plate removed to show the interior mechanism.

Figure 1"L is a transverse sectional view taken on line a, Figure l, except that the cover plate is shown in operative position thereon. F

Figure lb is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line J-J), Figure l..

vFiguresQ and 2a are respectively a face view and an edge view of the detached insulating bar for supporting the electric switches. Y

Figures 3 and 3a are respectively a face view and an edge view ofthe detached switch spring.`

Figures 4 and 4a are respectively a face view and an edge view of the detached cover plate.

Figures 5 and 5a are respectively a side elevation and an end view of one of the detached switch operation members.

Figure 6 is a face view of the pedal box section with the parts thereon, showing also diagrammatically the right and left signal lamps.

As illustrated, this device comprises a clutch pedal -pconsisting in this in stance of the tread -pof the usual clutch pedal lever anda boX section -bfor receiving and supporting an insulating bar The boX section preferably com-V prises abase -band a cover -Z;-, the base section -bbeing secured to the pedal section -pby suitable clamping bolts -mwhich are passed through openings -1- and 2 in the base section The cover plate -Z is secured to the open side of the base section bfby means of screws -4-, -5-, -6- and 7 near the corner thereof and constitutes what may be termed the pedal plateadapted to beengaged by the foot of the operator and for this purpose is inclined at an angle to the base -Z and -pas shown in Figure 2. The base section -Z is also reinforced at intervals by spaced ribs nfand-mfto enable the box section to be made as light as possible without sacrificing `its strength and durability. Y

The insulating block 9J- is preferably made in the form of a more or less flat plate of vulcanized libre or other suitable insulating material and is preferably provided with rounded ends seated in suitable recesses c--' in the inner faces of the outer ribs -rtw as shown in Figure 1 and is held in place by the cover plate -bas shown in Figure la.

The electric switches -8- and 448'- preferably consist of aV single bow spring leaf -30- having its intermediate portion secured to'the lower face of the insulating block. -iby means of a clamping bolt -10- and its opposite ends extended across Y.

stance, are square or angular in cross section and are slidable in suitable slots l.2 and l3 in the rear face of the base section --b so as to be able to slide freely therein without turning.

These bars O and 0 extend laterally in opposite directions irom the inner end of the clamping bolt l0 and are provided at their inner ends with offset portions 26 for engaging the adjacent downwardly deflected ends of the switch member 30 and forcing them into contact with their respective terminals l1- and 11 when the rods Q and `0 are moved laterally and outwardly in their respective guide openings l2- and l3 The outer ends of the rods o and o are provided with upwardly projecting wingsor ianges 32 and adj acent the outer end faces of the boX section band are adapted Vto be engaged and moved outwardly independently of each other against the action of theretracting springs 24 by the engagement or' the foot of the operator therewith when restinfr lightly upon the cover plate b Khe clover plate l-iis provided wit-h lugs 118 l9 20 and 2ladapted to enter the slots 12 and 13 in the base section for holding the Switch Operating rods -0- and +0- against displacement therefrom when the cover is secured in operative position.

y The lamps R and L are supplied with current from the battery I3- Figure 6, which is also connected to the clamping screws 10 to connect the switch member .30, the battery circ-uit, the terminals M and ll being connected by wires and 28 to their respective lamps lt and L as shown in Figure 6.

rThe 'cover plate b is provided with suitable bolt holes 1l ll-Y, 16- and 1T- for receiving the bolts 4 5. 6- and 7 l Operation.

lVhen the'box bis clamped in operative position upon the pedal 2%- and the switches s' and s are connected to the battery v B- and other signal lamps R and the outward movement of either one of the rods o 'er o by the engagement of the foot of the operator with the corresponding flange 32 will close the switch of the corresponding lamp which in turn, will indicate to pedestrians, trailic oilicers, and drivers of other machines, the intention of the operator to turn in the direction indicated by the signal.

YWhen the foot of the operator is resting lightly upon the pedal plate b. it may beY easily Vmoved laterally in either direction for shifting the corresponding switch opera ting bar. That is, by moving it to thel right to operate the member Q will operate the right hand signa/'ll while the movement of the footito the left will lshift 'the other switch operating member Vd-to energize the corresponding left hand lamp If it should be desired to remove any of the parts within the case b vit is simply necessary to remove the cover plate 4Z/ which permits the insulating. 'bar 1S- with the switches thereon to bey withdrawn from the seats Q lwhile the switch operating members O and may be lsimilarly witlidrawn from their respective slots y 1'2 and 1g-u i On the other.' hand, when assembling the parts, these operations arereversed and the cover plate secured in operative lposition to hold the interior parts in place. i'

lVhat we claim is: i

A pedal attachment for motorvehicle direction-signals comprising a switch boi; having means `for attachingl it to'one'of the control pedals of a motor vehicle, an insulating bar Supper-ted 'within the' bOX7 switch terminals mounted ontlie insulating plate in spaced relation, a switchmember secured to 'the insulating plate between said Iterminals and provided with laterally ex tending resilient parts movable into and out of contact withthe terminals and normally tensionevd to spring out of contact Wtllfthe terminals and separate devices slidable end wise in opposite sides of the box and each operable at will independently of the other, said devices being provided with means for engaging their respective resilient members for forcing' them into engagement with their corresponding terminals when 4moved in one direction, said 'terminals vbeing provided f,

with means for electrical connection with distinctive signal lamps. V

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 22day of May WILLIAM n. PHILLIPS, JB. .CLARENCE 0- 'MEZGER- 

